Capitol to Courthouse Headliners: Tuesday, June 24

 

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Hurricane Center says improving forecasts costly

– The National Hurricane Center’s director says it could take tens of millions of dollars for research and up to 10 years if officials want to substantially reduce errors in forecasting the intensity of hurricanes.

In an interview with The Associated Press on Tuesday, Bill Read (REED’) said reducing by half the errors made in determining intensity would be a costly and long-term effort.

Louisiana:  Citizens raises policy premiums

Statewide average boosted 18 percent

Homeowners insurance rates at Louisiana Citizens Property Insurance Corp. will increase by a statewide average of 18 percent in October as premiums at the state-sponsored insurer catch up with the dramatic run-up in prices from private companies after Hurricane Katrina.

Audit shows violations in Hernando County workers’ comp program

An audit of the county’s workers’ compensation program has found violations of county policy, inefficiencies and sparse or missing information on financial decisions that may have cost the county thousands of dollars.

Universal Insurance To Open 2nd Fla. P-C Subsidiary

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.-based Universal Insurance Holdings Inc. said it is seeking to open a second property-casualty insurance company subsidiary in Florida after filing an application with the state’s Office of Insurance Regulation.

Florida Free Wind Inspection Program Nears Goal

More than 365,000 Florida homeowners have signed up for free wind inspections through the My Safe Florida Home program, only 35,000 inspections shy of the Florida Legislature’s goal of 400,000 by June 2009.

EDITORIAL:  Natural disasters are hardly just a Florida problem

ISSUE: National catastrophe fund should be a priority.

Nobody knows what the final monetary toll will be for the floods that have devastated the Midwest.

LETTER TO THE EDITOR: Caught in storm shutter dilemma

On June 9, the city of Port St. Lucie passed ordinance No. 08-58 that may have some relevance to our predicament.

Debunking hurricane mitigation myths

”A shocking amount of people still believe that placing masking tape over windows will prevent damage from wind-borne debris during storms.” That statement comes from Leslie Chapman-Henderson, president and CEO of the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), which hopes to dispel hurricane myths.

Landscaping to Minimize Hurricane Damage

You’ve retrofitted or strengthened your house or mobile home, but you can do more to prepare for hurricanes.

COLUMN:  Are land crabs trying to tell us something about hurricane season?

I’m getting a little nervous about hurricane season.

Florida to pay U.S. Sugar $1.75-billion for 187,000 acres in Everglades

In a surprise move environmentalists call ‘breathtaking,’ U.S. Sugar Corp. plans to announce today a deal to sell the state 187,000 acres in the Everglades for $1.75-billion.

Miami Mayor Diaz: Feds ‘have abandoned’ cities

Delivering a biting speech critical of the federal government — but vowing to work with both major parties’ presidential candidates — Miami Mayor Manny Diaz became head of the U.S. Conference of Mayors.

Miami Mayor Manny Diaz, anointed leader of the U.S. Conference of Mayors on Monday, used his first address as president to blast the federal government’s commitment to America’s cities.

COLUMN:  Taking Aim at Gerrymandering

In a little less than two years – April 2010, to be exact – the U.S. Census bureau will compile the decennial census and within a year will send that information to state legislatures, thus beginning the every-decade fight among the two major political parties to out-district each other.

Vero Beach resident filing lawsuit after failing to qualify for Florida House race

Vero Beach cardiologist Charles Celano didn’t qualify last week for the Florida House District 80 race because he failed to file his candidate loyalty oath or his financial disclosure form with the right office by deadline, officials say.

Latest: Vasilinda files suit to knock Varn off the ballot

A candidate for the Florida House filed suit today to knock her opponent out of the Aug. 26 Democratic primary, saying his retroactive resignation from the Leon County School Board doesn’t comply with the “resign to run” law.

COLUMN:  Seminoles hold all the cards in Broward gambling industry

Here was the scene at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino at 11:45 a.m. Monday: Hundreds of gamblers streamed in to play blackjack, slot machines and baccarat. Players crowded around tables with newly lowered minimums of $10-a-hand. Nearly every seat was full at the $15 tables, too.

Sen. Haridopolos calls for public debates on ‘tax swap’ amendment

One of the Legislature’s top money managers enlisted several business, education, health care and civic organizations Monday to fight the “tax swap” amendment on Florida’s ballot next fall.

OPINION POLL:  Hard times in state deflate Crist’s approval ratings

For the first time in his 18 months in office, Gov. Charlie Crist’s popularity is down, a new poll found.

Rising gas prices, the falling real estate market and deep state budget cuts have not only brought South Florida’s economy to a crawl, they’ve deflated the once sky-high approval ratings of Gov. Charlie Crist, according to a new Miami Herald poll.

State: FPL green program misleads

The environmentally conscious customers who gave Florida Power & Light $11.4 million for green energy did not get their money’s worth, according to a state report released Monday.

City’s stormwater program recognized

After General Development Corp. officials designed the city stormwater system years ago, rain from summer storms began collecting in the streets.

Get ready to use more biofuels

The Sunshine State is increasingly gassing up on corn-fed fuel.

Gov. Charlie Crist is expected to sign a new energy law later this week that calls for more ethanol-mixed gasoline in the state.

NASA: Layoffs not so dire

About 1,000 space workers — worried about losing their jobs when the shuttle stops flying in 2010 — came in buses and cars and on foot Monday, carrying signs and pamphlets demanding job security and a vibrant space program.

U.S. House passes bill stopping Medicare cut for doctors

The legislation passed despite a veto threat by President Bush and protests from the insurance industry. The vote was 355-59. The bill had broad support from doctors, hospitals and pharmacists. A vote against the measure would have risked alienating those important constituencies just as lawmakers get ready to break for the July 4th recess.

Pressure Mounts for Paperless Auto Medical Claims Processing

Auto medical claims are on the brink of major change.

Beginning July 15, 2009, all health care transactions processed in the state of Minnesota must be 100 percent paperless. Group purchasers -— for the first time including auto insurance carriers — will be required to process medical bills, payments and remittance advice using a standard electronic format.

Report: Workplace Injuries Unreported

A congressional report found two out of three work-related illnesses and injuries may be going unreported, and called into question federal regulators’ claims that workplace problems are declining.

Insurance Education Program Wins National Award

Insure U Named to Associations Advance America Honor Roll

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) has been named to the 2008 Associations Advance America Honor Roll, a national awards competition sponsored by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and The Center for Association Leadership.

Cat Bond Markets Resist Credit Crunch

Forced asset sales that have frozen major markets in the credit crisis have caused barely a ripple in the $22 billion catastrophe bond market this year and instead only enhanced its liquidity.

Banks, Life Insurers Developing Stronger Marketing Ties

Life insurance companies and banks are developing stronger marketing relationships yet some barriers must still be overcome to maximize bank distribution of life insurance products, according to an ongoing study of life insurer-bank business cultures.

Insurance Agents Advised to Learn from Professional Employer Organizations

As insurance agents and brokers search for ways to respond to the continuing soft market, they would be wise to follow the example of professional employer organizations (PEOs) that are winning over small and mid-sized employers, according to one consultant.

NAMIC: Louisiana Legislature Winds Up 2008 Session After Adopting ‘Named Storm’ Deductible

Proposal – a ‘Win-Win’ for Insurance Consumers, Companies

The Louisiana Legislature has adjourned after passing several  proposals affecting the property/casualty insurance industry, according to the National Association of Mutual Insurance Companies. Last night’s adjournment followed a weekend of frenzied activity for lawmakers.

Sunset Commission to Hear Input on Texas Department of Insurance Review

The Texas Sunset Advisory Commission is holding a public hearing June 24 and 25 to gather comments on the Sunset Commissioner Staff Report recommendations on the continuing governance of the Texas Department of Insurance and the Office of Public Insurance Counsel. The staff report, released in late May 2008, indicated that overall, TDI functions well but recommended tweaking the way the department handles insurance regulation.

Group Says Illinois Has Worst Litigation Climate

Among the 50 states, Illinois has the worst litigation climate for business and the highest risk for lawsuits, according to a non-profit business coalition.

RMS Says UK Govt. Plays Down Flood Risk

A year after flooding swept through large portions of Britain causing billions in insured loss, a catastrophe modeling firm says more homes are at risk in Britain than a government report suggests.

The case for renter’s insurance

If you’re a renter and there’s an accident or burglary, the landlord’s insurance will pick up the tab, right? Not true. Landlords usually only insure the building structure itself, so you’re responsible for any lost or damaged possessions. And, if someone falls in your apartment or gets bitten by your dog, guess who they might sue? You.

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